...we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, of the Fourth Infantry, was placed in command.
We embarked for the Pacific coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the Isthmus of Panama , in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, above San Francisco.
From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and on reaching that post, found orders directing me to rel...